Cultivation and uses

Pistacia vera, a small tree, is grown for its edible seeds (see Pistachio). The seeds of the other species were also eaten in prehistory, but are too small to have commercial value today. Records of Pistacia from pre-classical archaeological sites, and mentions in pre-classical texts, always refer to one of these other species (often P. terebinthus).

Pistacia terebinthus, a native of the eastern Mediterranean countries, is tapped for turpentine (see Terebinth).